The Wire's Short Film Festival in Delhi: Get Your Tickets Now!
In continuation of the series of events held to mark and celebrate 10 years since The Wire was launched, we will be hosting the 'Changing Direction' Short Film Festival on March 6 at 5:30 PM in New Delhi. The Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan is our venue partner, and the festival is sponsored by the Information and Public Relations Department, Government of Kerala.
The call for films had a broad theme: Changing Direction. Filmmakers were free to interpret this in any way they liked, and submit films of 20 minutes or less. The jury of Payal Kapadia, Vani Subramanian and Faiza Ahmad Khan has chosen nine films from the nearly 200 submissions we received.
The final films are (in no particular order):
1. Noises from the Basement, directed by Abhay P.
Who makes a city, and how often do we see them? This film provides a view of Ahmedabad and its growth – but seen from the Basement.
2. Daddu Zindabad, directed by Samar Jain
In a village steeped in caste discrimination, Vishnu must defy oppressive traditions to fulfil his grandfather’s dying wish – to be cremated in the village’s only cremation ground controlled by the 'upper' castes.
3. The Waiting Game, directed by Kanika Gupta
The Waiting Game follows the arrest of Indian fishermen in the Arabian Sea and how it upends the lives of the women they leave behind
4. Ek Achha Sawaal, directed by Sara Saini
In Punjab's Banga district, sculptor Davinder crafts 'showpiece' water tankers, serving customers whose striking designs reflect their migration stories, shaped by caste, class, unemployment, and the declining agricultural economy.
5. WE, the Puffcorns of India, directed by Aditya Mungde
On their journey to a new life in Pune, Shilpi, a determined woman migrating for work, faces a heart-wrenching decision when her drunken husband gets separated from them during a celebratory Ram Mandir consecration rally.
6. KYC*, directed by Aravindan S.S.
By day, Ganesh Rajasekharan navigates his workplace with patronising authority, dismissing female colleagues and clients while championing traditional masculinity. By night, G posts misogynistic and religious vitriol on social media, targeting self assured women with hate.
7. Avaar Navaar Chhoriyaan, directed by Shefalee Jain and Shivi Bhatnagar
अवार-नवार छोरियां /Every Now and Then Girls is an adaptation of a Rajasthani folktale, 'Dohri Joon'/Two Lives, collected by the renowned folklorist of Rajasthan, Vijaydan Detha.
8. Tara, directed by Ashutosh S. Shankar
Tara is a story of an Indian Dalit trans woman who puts herself out in the dating pool of Bombay as she tries to navigate her queer and caste identity.
9. Kal Raat Kolaba Mein, directed by Suryansh Deo Srivastava
When Ashfaq, a food delivery executive, is lynched by a mob, five witnesses are summoned for interrogation.
The aim of this festival was to celebrate creativity and free expression, and we're thrilled to be able to share these films with you and to provide a space where the filmmakers can interact with the audience. We hope you'll be able to join us!
Congratulating all the filmmakers who participated and those who were selected, jury head Kapadia said, “It was really incredible to see the range of work, as well as the political passion in each of them. The chosen films have a very clear point of view, as well as well as an artistic voice that is unique. It was a true pleasure to watch them.”
Details of the event
Date: Friday, March 6, 2026
Time: 5:30 PM
Venue: Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan
3, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi
There is no parking available in front of the venue, so we'd recommend you use public transport.
Please download save the ticket that is generated after you pay. In case you misplace that ticket, please email us at events@thewire.in.
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